Thursday, June 12th, 2008
WHAT DOES YOUR OFFICE SPACE SAY?
When a potential new client or a potential new employee walks in your front door or walks off the elevator, what is their FIRST IMPRESSION? I hope they immediately think (or even say), “Wow, what a beautiful office.”
Your office design and decor matter – A LOT. Even a small investment in updating for visual effect and efficiency can make a huge difference, especially in these times of talent wars. Plus, people will actually work longer hours. According to a study by Gensler, a San Francisco design and consulting firm, 48% of employees surveyed said they would work an hour longer each day if they had a better office. Think of the positive impact this could make on team members who have to work 3 extra hours per day in busy season.
Remember, just as Baby Boomers are being phased out, so should the traditional CPA office. I visit many firms and see some very impressive, upscale, professional, successful-looking space.
However, much of it has the look of an older generation.
Consider spending some money this summer or fall on updating office space. Good design can be as simple as switching from the traditional work-room (counter, table, copiers where financial statement and tax return assembly happen) to color coordinated modular work tables. Update the traditional artwork to contemporary, colorful pictures and wall sculptures.
In the design of our new Columbus, Ohio office space, I spent a substantial part of the artwork budget on a turquoise acrylic sculpture by a local artist. It sits in the pointed glass corner of our conference room and reflects the sunlight streaming in the windows. Little things can make the biggest difference.
Rich Caturano, President and CEO of Vitale Caturano in Boston, sure sets the standard for cool office space and a successful, thriving firm. They not only have a chef, they have an art gallery. Click here to learn more about it and see a slide show of the current exhibit. Check out other cool things on their site, like their corporate volunteer day (click on Community and then VCC Foundation).
Creative office space with flexibility can do everything from boosting productivity and lifting morale to polishing your firms image. Click here to read more about it.
“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” – - Oscar Wilde
[...] not only great places to work, the CPA office itself is almost always very upscale and beautiful. Many I have visited simply make me say, “Wow!” And honestly, a few have made me think, [...]